Representing the views of 5,000 women across 10 countries, the research reveals a stark reality for women in the workplace: gender equality has regressed during the pandemic, stifling years of slow, but steady progress. Increased responsibilities at work and at home during the pandemic, coupled with non-inclusive workplace cultures, are resulting in diminishing job satisfaction and employer loyalty for women.
“The last year has been a ‘perfect storm’ for many women facing increased workloads and greater responsibilities at home, a blurring of the boundaries between the two, and continued experiences of non-inclusive behaviors at work,” says Emma Codd, Deloitte global inclusion leader. “While the adverse impact on women’s wellbeing, motivation, and engagement is obvious, our research also shows that some employers are getting it right: The women who work for these organizations are more engaged, productive, and satisfied with their careers. As we start to rebuild workplaces for the future, we have a golden opportunity to get gender equality and inclusion right and avoid setting back years of progress.”
Among the key findings from the Deloitte survey:
- Seventy-seven percent of respondents say their workload increased since the COVID-19 crisis broke
- Over half of women surveyed have experienced harassment or non-inclusive behavior at work in the past year
- A majority of respondents are planning to leave their current employer within two years; nearly a quarter may leave the workforce for good
- A small group of employers, “gender equality leaders,” have successfully supported women throughout the pandemic and built more inclusive cultures
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